Lionel Messi, often regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, was born on June 24, 1987, in Rosario, Argentina. He began playing football at a young age and joined the youth team of his local club, Newell's Old Boys. At the age of 13, Messi moved to Spain to join the youth academy of FC Barcelona, where he quickly rose through the ranks due to his exceptional talent and skill.